FNUS75 KMSO 271642
FWSMSO

SPOT FORECAST FOR KESSLER CREEK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
1042 AM MDT SUN SEP 27 2009

FORECAST IS BASED ON IGNITION TIME OF 1100 PDT ON SEPTEMBER 27.
IF CONDITIONS BECOME UNREPRESENTATIVE...CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.

.DISCUSSION...UPPER RIDGE IS BUILDING OVER THE FIRE TODAY WITH A
WEAK NORTH TO SOUTH SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT. THE TOP OF THE FIRE
WILL SEE WINDS...WITH THE BASE BEING DIURNALLY/TERRAIN DRIVEN.
INVERSIONS ARE ANTICIPATED AGAIN THIS EVENING...AND THE MID
ELEVATION OF THE FIRE IS ANTICIPATED TO BE IN THE SUBSEQUENT
THERMAL BELT (5500-6400 FT). MONDAY THE RIDGE WILL SHIFT EAST AND
INCREASED SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL DEVELOP BY LATE AFTERNOON.

.TODAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........SUNNY.
CWR.................0 PERCENT.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....65-70 BASE...55-60 TOP
MIN HUMIDITY........13-18 PERCENT.
WIND (20 FT)........TOP...NORTH WINDS 5-8 MPH.
                    BASE...CALM WINDS BECOMING UPSLOPE TO 5
                    MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.
MIXING HEIGHT.......3800 FT AGL.
MIXING WINDS........NORTH 5 MPH.

.TONIGHT...

SKY/WEATHER.........CLEAR.
CWR.................0 PERCENT.
MIN TEMPERATURE.....40-45...50-55 THERMAL BELT.
MAX HUMIDITY........45-50 PERCENT...EXCEPT 32-37 PERCENT THERMAL BELT.
WIND (20 FT)........NORTHWEST WINDS AROUND 5 MPH BECOMING DOWNSLOPE 2-4
                    MPH AFTER SUNSET...VARIABLE WINDS 5-7 MPH IN THE
                    THERMAL BELT.
MIXING HEIGHT.......600 FT AGL.
MIXING WINDS........SOUTHEAST 5 MPH.

.MONDAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........PARTLY CLOUDY.
CWR.................0 PERCENT.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....79-84 BASE...68-73 TOP.
MIN HUMIDITY........13-18 PERCENT.
WIND (20 FT)........UPSLOPE WINDS TO 5 MPH BECOMING SOUTH AND INCREASING
                    TO 12-17 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH IN THE
                    AFTERNOON.
MIXING HEIGHT.......5200 FT AGL.
MIXING WINDS........SOUTHWEST 25 MPH.

$$
FORECASTER...MEAD
REQUESTED BY...HAYDEN GNEWIKOW
TYPE OF REQUEST...PRESCRIBED
.TAG 20090927.KESSL.01/MSO